Over the past six years, Rewilding Portugal has undertaken a wide range of actions to enable the natural recovery of Iberian wolves south of the Douro River. In collaboration with local partners and supported by the European Commission, the “LIFE WolFlux” initiative has provided a strong foundation for ongoing work aimed at securing a brighter future for this iconic keystone species.

A grant from Rewilding Europe’s European Wildlife Comeback Fund has enabled the translocation of roe deer and Sorraia horses to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park in central Portugal. In conjunction with other herbivores, the animals will help to enhance biodiversity, mitigate wildfire risk, and support the growth of nature-based tourism.

Backed by the Natural Capital Financing Facility, a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, the loans will support new forest and peatland restoration projects that enhance biodiversity, support wildlife comeback and deliver greater value to people.

Rewilding Europe is delighted to welcome a new member from Portugal to the European Rewilding Network. Working to promote the nature-based economic development of the Serra da Estrela region, the Rewilding Geopark Estrela project takes the number of network members to 65 (including Rewilding Europe’s eight operational areas), distributed right across Europe.

An inaugural grant from the newly established Endangered Landscapes Programme will enable Rewilding Europe and local partners to develop a 120,000-hectare wildlife corridor in the Greater Côa Valley in northern Portugal. By scaling up current rewilding efforts in Western Iberia, this will transform a region with high levels of rural depopulation and species loss into one with new opportunities for both wild nature and people. The 2.6 million euro grant complements another for 2.1 million euros for a record-breaking wetland and steppe restoration project in the Danube Delta.

Monitoring of raptor species in the Faia Brava Nature Reserve and Côa Valley Special Protection Area (SPA) shows griffon vultures have made a dramatic return to the Western Iberia rewilding area since the 1990s. This bodes well for ongoing rewilding efforts here.

Members of the LIFE project “Club de Fincas por la Conservación del Oeste Ibérico”, including many employees of Rewilding Europe partner Associação Transumância e Natureza, came together late last year in the Western Iberia rewilding area to learn how to build nesting platforms. Encouraging birds to nest in protected areas such as this will help endangered local species such as vultures, eagles and storks.

Nature-based tourism takes off in Western Iberia thanks to financial support from Rewilding Europe Capital.

Would you like to spend your spring and summer surrounded by stunning Portuguese landscapes? For those passionate about wild nature, and who also love communicating about it, our rewilding team in Western Iberia is now offering a unique opportunity.

The Côa Valley Grand Route, a 200 km marked trail that crosses the entire Western Iberia, has been recently launched. The picturesque route connects the river from the spring to the mouth. This is the perfect opportunity for tourists and nature lovers to visit the Western Iberia rewilding area, enjoy its wildlife and discover the beautiful countryside of Portugal.